Washburn: Breaking Down My Top 20 Poll

The calendar has turned to April and teams are now in the heart
of their conference schedule, the most important games of the
season.

The polls will start to become much more important as the NCAA
tournament conversation heats up.

Last week I listed my entire top 20, along with my ranking
system. This week we are taking it to the next level, with
breakdowns and expectations for each team.

1. Maryland (8-1)

I was on the call on CBS Sports Network for the Terps' 11-8 win
over Navy on Friday night. I walked away impressed with Maryland
once again. It wasn't prettiest win for Tillman and company, but
credit Navy for playing its most inspired lacrosse of the season
during this rivalry game.

Pick your poison when dealing with Maryland's weapons. The Terps
have six players with double-digit point totals. In the net, Niko
Amato is playing better than any goalie in the nation and in
transition there is no better team.

As I said Friday night, if Maryland does not walk away from
championship weekend with the title I will be shocked.

2. Cornell (10-1)

It had all the makings of another top-5 upset, but the Big Red
outscored Harvard 7-2 in the fourth quarter and got out of
Cambridge with a 14-12 win.

Cornell, like Maryland, has a lethal offense that is generating
more goals than any team in the country: 147 on the season. This
group loves to put the ball on cage, outshooting opponents 506 to
364.

Cornell faces it's toughest test of the season thus far
Wednesday night when they take on Syracuse in the Carrier Dome.

3. North Carolina (8-3)

The Tar Heels are the hottest team in the country. They have won
five straight games against the likes of Maryland, Brown, Johns
Hopkins and Virginia.

We knew what this offense could do, but the improved defense is
now the story.

Freshman goalie Kieran Burke has settled in and is playing great
. He is coming off of the best game of his career making 23 saves
in the 10-7 win over Virginia.

The Tar Heels should head into the ACC tournament with a 10-3
record.

4. Denver (9-2)

The Pioneers got all they could handle from Bellarmine on Sunday
afternoon, escaping in double overtime 11-10. Eric Law is having an
incredible season and this game could be that Tewaaraton moment he
needs. Law had three goals and two assists, including the game
winner.

Denver has not lost a game in regulation since Feb. 17 and will
now visit Loyola with the top seed in the ECAC tournament on the
line.

5. Loyola (9-2)

The Greyhounds are back.

They have won five straight games and are playing the type of
lacrosse that brought them the national championship last year.

Defensive midfielder Josh Hawkins and long stick midfielder
Scott Ratliff combined for six goals on six shots in Saturday's
13-7 win over Fairfield.

This team heads into the season's biggest game — Saturday
against Denver — playing its best lacrosse.

6. Syracuse (7-2)

The Orange can be inconsistent at times, but their good is
really good.

Going to Princeton and beating the Tigers in a 13 -12 shootout
was impressive.

Their stock is up right now but the meat of the Big East
schedule still remains, along with a Wednesday night matchup with
No. 2 Cornell.

7. Princeton (6-3)

The Tigers only drop one spot in my poll after a loss to
Syracuse.

The biggest concern to come out of the loss to the Orange that
Princeton was outscored 6-3 in the final quarter after starting the
fourth with a two-goal lead at home.

The X-factor for this team will be freshman goalie Matt
O'Connor. He will have to be great for this team to realize their
goals.

8. Duke (9-4)

The Blue Devils have stood up to all the early-season doubters,
including myself, and again sit as a top-10 team in April.

When Duke is playing with a sense of urgency, and as a unit on
the defensive end, they can beat any team in the country.

9. Penn St. (8-3)

The Nittany Lions are my sleeper team, if they can finally get
into the NCAA tournament.

They have the formula for a deep run. A top-5 defense (7.3 goals
against) and a dynamic offense led by the attack of Jack Forester,
Shane Sturgis and T.J. Sanders.

The trio has combined for 99 points this season.

Penn State would be best served to win the CAA tournament as the
way into the NCAA tournament, but at this point their resume is
looking pretty good with wins over Denver, Bucknell, Drexel and
Villanova.

10. Notre Dame (7-2)

Most polls have the Irish ranked much higher than 10th. Their
resume is impressive with wins over North Carolina, Denver, Penn
State and Ohio State.

I'm just not sold on the overall talent level and depth of this
team.

To me there is a difference between finding a way to win games
and constantly finding yourself in tight games, no matter the
competition.

Notre Dame has played six games decided by two or less goals,
and three have gone to overtime.

11. Bucknell (10-2)

The Bison are my surprise team of the season and once again find
themselves in good shape heading into a huge Patriot League
showdown with Lehigh.

Coach Frank Fedorjaka has again put together a team that is very
unselfish offensively; seven players have double-digit point
totals. The defense continues to slide quickly and frustrate
opponents and, oh yeah, there is that pesky 10-man ride.

Despite a great start I still have Lehigh repeating as Patriot
League champions, but Bucknell could be the Colgate of 2012.

12. Ohio State (7-3)

I'm still not sure how good the Buckeyes really are, largely due
to the way they have played against the top-tier teams.

Despite that uncertainty, I think they will most likely head
into the ECAC tournament at 10-3 and on a four-game winning
streak.

13. Albany (7-3)

The Danes will be a tough matchup for any of the top eight NCAA
tournament seeds.

The Great Danes had the lacrosse world watching on Friday night,
to see how they and Lyle Thompson would perform on the big stage at
Homewood Field.

Albany made a statement, winning 10-9 in the final minutes
against Johns Hopkins. Lyle Thompson, however, struggled. He went
scoreless while turning it over five times.

The Danes will win the America East and be a tough matchup for
any of the top eight NCAA tournament seeds.

14. Lehigh (8-4)

The Mountain Hawks beat Colgate Saturday 13-10 in what was the
most physical game of the weekend.

The officials were busy in this one, throwing 20 penalty flags
and putting the timer on 11 times.

As I mentioned earlier, I have Lehigh repeating as Patriot
League champions. I think they have the most depth of talent in the
league and have put any early season cockiness in the rearview.

15. Johns Hopkins (6-4)

The Blue Jays have no top-20 wins and head into Saturday's road,
rivalry game against No. 1 Maryland with more questions than
answers.

The final five games for Johns Hopkins will be must see TV as
the Blue Jays try to extend their streak of NCAA tournament
appearances to 41 straight.

16. Penn (6-3)

After a hot start the Quakers have cooled off, losing three out
of their last four and are lucky to still have a spot in the Top
20.

Their only shot at the NCAA tournament will come by winning the
Ivy League.

17. Drexel (8-3)

The Dragons have an offense that can light up the scoreboard,
but a bad habit of slow starts.

The CAA tournament is an old school slugfest, and that is an
environment where Drexel can thrive.

18. Villanova (4-6)

It was a good week for the Wildcats, who got Big East wins over
Georgetown and Rutgers. This team is now 3-0 in-conference and atop
the standings, with three games remaining.

Villanova is much better than their record indicates and by the
eye test could be a tournament team.

19. St. John's (7-3)

Dealing with success is often more difficult than attaining
it.

After the program's biggest win over then-No. 1 Notre Dame, the
Red Storm lost to unranked Georgetown Saturday 14-13.

St. Johns is now 2-2 in the Big East and is on the outside
looking in on the conference tournament. They play Villanova and
Providence in the next two weeks to decide their post-season
future.

20. Hofstra (7-4)

The Pride have played good teams tough and won the games they
should. In the next three weeks they face North Carolina, UMass and
Penn State.

Evan Washburn, the former Delaware defenseman and current
CBS Sports Network and NBC Sports Network lacrosse commentator,
provides a column each Monday during the NCAA Division I men's
lacrosse season. FollowEvan on Twitter@EvanWashburn.